The island of Oahu is known to be the tropical paradise in Hawaii and it’s my favorite of the three Hawaiian islands. Incredible hiking, great surf breaks, a good restaurant scene, and some nightlife. It has it all. It’s a great place for adventurous backpackers and there are actually some pretty good hostels on Oahu.
In this blog post, I will review each of the hostels on Oahu to give you an idea of which are the best value, best for parties, best location, and best to meet new friends. My overall favorite hostel on Oahu is the Waikiki Beachside Hostel for a cheap place to stay with good vibes!
QUICK PICKS: MY 3 FAVORITE HOSTELS ON OAHU
Don’t have time to read my detailed breakdown of all the top hostels on Oahu? No worries! These are my three top picks. If you book one of these three, you are guaranteed to have a great stay in a great location!
Backpackers Vacation Inn & Plantation Village
- Budget
- Cheapest hostel in the North Shore
- Basic accommodation
BEST RENTAL CAR COMPANY IN HAWAII
When you book your Hawaii Rental Car online, I personally recommend and always use Discover Cars. They search for both local and international companies, so you get the best deal!
WHY STAY IN A HOSTEL ON OAHU
Oahu is generally a place for luxury vacations. However, there are also a number of backpacker accommodations and affordable hostels on Oahu. Most of them are in Waikiki but there is even a pretty sweet hostel on the north shore of Oahu (at the bottom of this blog post).
If you’re a traveler/backpacker and looking for budget accommodation, hostels are the best place to meet new people, save money on accommodation and enjoy a relaxed atmosphere on your trip.
BEST HOSTELS ON OAHU COMPARISON TABLE
| HOSTEL | LOCATION | RATES |
| The Beach Waikiki Boutique Hostel | Waikiki | $40 |
| Waikiki Beachside Hostel | Waikiki | $78 |
| Polynesian Hostel Beach Club | Waikiki | $60 |
| Hostelling International Honolulu | Honolulu | $25 |
| Backpackers Vacation Inn | North Shore | $75 |
| Kalani Hawaii Private Lodging | North Shore | $85 |
THE BEST HOSTELS ON OAHU, HAWAII
Below I’ve rounded up Oahu’s best hostels that offer a budget-saving package that leaves you more pennies in your pocket. These hostels embody the traits I love: excellent staff, a warm atmosphere, competitive prices, comfy dorm beds, clean facilities, and that special charm that makes a hostel memorable.
WAIKIKI BEACHSIDE HOSTEL
Waikiki Beachside Hostel (Location): The best hostel in Waikiki and just one block away from the beach (Kuhio Beach and Queen’s Surf Beach) which offers an upbeat atmosphere. Waikiki Beachside Hostel is another budget-friendly accommodation in Oahu. For a reasonable price of $78 a night, you’ll have a clean and comfortable bunk bed.
If you want some privacy, they also offer private or semi-private rooms. In some rooms, full kitchens are offered (available by request and availability) so you can prepare food by yourself and by your preference and there’s more they have more special offerings like student and room discounts plus free wifi included throughout your stay. Waikiki Beachside Hostel-Location offers on-site activities such as free seasonal parties and live entertainment. If you want to get around the island try renting mopeds and scooters on site. For me, this is the top option when looking for a hostel on Oahu.
Click Here to check the current rates and availability for Waikiki Beachside Hostel
THE BEACH WAIKIKI BOUTIQUE HOSTEL
The Beach Waikiki Boutique Hostel (Location): Set just right in the heart of the action, The Beach Waikiki Boutique Hostel puts you right up and close to relaxation on Oahu’s most gorgeous beach–Waikiki Beach. They offer a budget-friendly room (dorm-type and private) and there is an outdoor kitchen and a balcony that you can use.
The hostel takes it a step further in making you feel part of the family with their free pizza nights on the rooftop lounge as well as their free beach equipment and lockers. Can’t beat that! Everything feels so warm and homely here. What appeals to me the most is that they offer tours every day to different attractions on the island including snorkeling. Yes! It’s pretty convenient and more reasonable compared to other tours. Undoubtedly this is one of the best hostels in Oahu!
Click Here to check the current rates and availability for The Beach Waikiki Boutique Hostel
POLYNESIAN HOSTEL BEACH CLUB
Polynesian Hostel Beach Club (Budget/Location): Located in Waikiki, Polynesian Hostel is the perfect place to base for your adventures in Oahu. The hostel’s central location is one of its best features – it’s super close to the beach, restaurants, and shops. The rooms are basic, but it’s the cheapest you can get in Oahu, and there is a free locker in each dorm so your stuff will be safe.
The communal kitchen is large which is perfect for meeting other guests while having your free breakfast. They also offer discounted tours and activities onsite so it’s hassle-free plus you can save your money! Then, you will get an opportunity to mingle with other travelers. I highly recommend this Waikiki hostel.
Click Here to check the current rates and availability for Polynesian Hostel Beach Club
HOSTELLING INTERNATIONAL HONOLULU
Hostelling International Honolulu (Budget): If you are super tight on budget and you just need a clean place to rest for a few days of exploring the island, you have picked the right place! Perfect for solo travelers and backpackers, this hostel is close to Waikiki beach, shops, restaurants, and public transport so you’ll definitely have a convenient stay.
This budget-friendly hostel offers basic facilities including safe male and female dorms, and free wifi. And you’ll meet other short-term travelers or backpackers here, too. One of the cheapest youth hostels I’ve been to and one of the most reliable hostels on Oahu.
Click Here to check the current rates and availability for Hostelling International Honolulu
KALANI HAWAII PRIVATE LODGING
Kalani Hawaii Private Lodging (Staff/Location): This Private Lodging is owned by two incredible people on the North Shore (Bernie & Maria). Let’s be honest, it’s hard to find cheap lodging run by good people these days but here the owner really put their heart to cater to every guest’s needs.
This accommodation is not only perfect and amazing but it’s more like home. For $85 a night, you can get a comfy bunk bed and one of the cheapest on the North Shore. One thing that makes this place perfect is the proximity to Sunset Beach and the views outside it just wow. I couldn’t recommend Kalani Hawaii Private Lodging enough!
Click Here to check the current rates and availability for Kalani Hawaii Private Lodging
BEST HOSTEL ON THE NORTH SHORE OF OAHU
BACKPACKERS VACATION INN & PLANTATION VILLAGE
Backpackers Vacation Inn & Plantation Village (Budget/Location): If you’re a backpacker or a surfer visiting the North Shore on a budget, this Inn is your best pick. Like any other hostel, it offers basic accommodation such as dorm beds and studios yet the cheapest hostel on the North Shore.
The location is great as it is just walking distance of the beach. Most people would already be sold by just seeing that this Inn is located a few minutes away from the world-famous surfing beach on Oahu’s North Shore. When it comes to budget and location, this is definitely your best choice!
Click Here to check the current rates and availability for Backpackers Vacation Inn & Plantation Village
Backpackers Vacation Inn & Plantation Village
- Budget
- Cheapest hostel in the North Shore
- Basic accommodation
I hope this list of the top hostels on Oahu helped you choose a good budget accommodation for your trip to Hawaii.
THE FOUR MOST POPULAR OAHU TOURS
- Doors-Off Oahu Helicopter Flight Tour: My number one recommendation is to do a heli-flight (doors off) and be blown away when you see Oahu from the air.
- North Shore Shark Cage Tour: The biggest adrenaline rush you can have in Hawaii is beneath the surface with sharks!
- Eco-Friendly Dolphin and Snorkel Tour: One of the best experiences I had on Oahu was swimming with the beautiful spinner dolphins on this exact tour.
- Turtle Canyon Snorkel Cruise by Catamaran: The number 1 MOST POPULAR snorkel tour on Oahu. GUARANTEED Turtles!
WHERE TO STAY ON OAHU
- Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort (Overall Favorite): In the heart of Waikiki, this high-end resort is right on the beach with a private lagoon.
- Sheraton Waikiki (Luxury): A luxury resort with the most amazing infinity pool on the island, which overlooks the beach.
- Ewa Hotel Waikiki: (Value): Ewa Hotel is just one block back from the beach and is just over $150 USD.
- Waikiki Beachside Hostel (Budget Choice): A budget alternative, which is still in an amazing location.
- Disney Aulani Resort (Family Choice): This is a resort your kids will never forget. It honestly feels like you are living in a theme park.
MORE OAHU BLOG POSTS
I lived on Oahu for two years and loved adventuring from the beaches to the mountains to the waterfalls! These are my most popular blog post and guides from the beautiful island of Oahu to help you plan your trip!
- What to pack for Hawaii: THE HAWAII PACKING LIST: WHAT TO PACK
- A helpful guide to choosing accommodation: WHERE TO STAY ON OAHU
- Most epic hike on Oahu: THE STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN OAHU, HAWAII
- The best Waterfalls: AMAZING WATERFALLS ON OAHU, HAWAII
- Ultimate Cliff Jumping Guide: 11 BEST CLIFF JUMPING SPOTS ON OAHU
- Guide to Swimming with Sea Turtles: WHERE TO SEE TURTLES ON OAHU
- The best Waterfall Hikes: TOP WATERFALL HIKES ON OAHU
- Best Tours: 20 BEST TOURS ON OAHU
- The Ultimate Guide to Oahu: 80 AWESOME THINGS TO DO ON OAHU
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Leo
Wednesday 23rd of June 2021
Thank you so much for the information. Your blog is a wonderful resource. I am in México right now, in case you need to know anything about my country. Cheers